I have installed all of my freeze Plugs except the front end oil galley plugs. I went to put them in but they seem way too big. I ordered the freeze plug kit from summit. They say 1/2 on the inside. Are these too big or is it normal for them to be that much oversized. I know they should be tight to prevent leakage but they arent like the core plugs. Its a 350 4 bolt main if it makes any difference.

 

˝" is the correct size.

Yes they have about the same amount of interference to their fit, as the core plugs. Only thing is, that's about 1% of the dia of the core plugs, but more like 10% of the dia of those little ones.

Personally I prefer to tap the block for Ľ" pipe plugs. I drill a VERY SMALL hole in each of the 2 on the sides, like about #70 wire bit size, to oil the timing chain; NOT the top one though.

 

Right. For the hassle of banging in some press-fit plugs (that can fall back out again if you don't stake the edges to hold them in place) you could just as easily thead the holes for some pipe plugs and never again have a concern about them falling out (plus they are easily removable for future block cleanings).

It's one of those little things I do, like using full-floating wrist pins whenever possible, that makes the engine SO much more "servicable" the next time you are inside it for a refresh or a different combination of parts.

 

So you essentially make the front galley plugs the same as the rear?

 

Yup

 

what was the exact tap size you use? The threads that i have that could work arent arent the right kind of thread. From what i can tell I need either a 12mx1.5 or a 1/2nc-18. those sound about right?

 

No...

Ľ" pipe

 

how is that even possible? 1/4 tap doesnt even fit in the inside of the plug. If the plugs are 1/2" how am i suppose to replace it with 1/4" threaded plug?

 

The allen wrench is 1/4" but i need the size of the tap to make the oil galley threaded

 

Quit arguing. That's what size it is.

Go to the store. Buy a Ľ" pipe tap.

It will IMMEDIATELY become obvious how all of this is possible.

Pick up 3 Ľ" pipe plugs while you're there; and about #70 drill bit. Use it on the 2 side plugs but not on the top one.

 

i have in my hand a tap that reads "1/4NC20" Is this not a 1/4" tap? The holes on the block surrounding the camshaft are 1/2". If the tap i have is in fact 1/4" then there is no way it will tap threads into these holes. You misread me. I am not argueing i am asking you to explain it to me. Thats why i came here. Could the holes in my block have been drilled out to a larger size?

 

Yes that is a Ľ" tap.

It IS NOT a Ľ" PIPE tap.

2 different things. VERY different.

What did you see when you went to the hardware store and looked at all the brass pieces hanging on the pegboard or in the drawers?

 

Here in sumter sc im very limited on hardware stores. Looks like ill need to venture further out. Ive found only 1 store that sells taps and they had what i already tried. I have a tap and die set and i used the only 2 sizes that were large enough to test it out on a spare block and they werent the right threads.

 

What you need is a 1/4" NPT tap. (national pipe thread)

 

There it is. Thanks Dyno!

 

Home Depot? Lowe's? Last time I was through there, seems like I recall a Lowe's; but it's been a while.

 

Hey- just FYI, a pipe thread tap is, as was noted above, a VERY different beast. Not just because of the size or thread pitch or any of the usual reasons, but also because the threads are TAPERED. Which means the further you cut the threads in the deeper the plug will have to screw in to seal up.

If this is your first time tapping for a pipe-thread plug don't be afraid to stop and test it out with the plug from time to time. You can always make it go deeper, you can not make it shallower again.

 

There is a lowes here but they no longer carry taps

 

Unimaginable. Not carrying basic hand tools for plumbers? Sounds more like, failure to look on the right aisle.

But however that may be, order one here.

www.mcmaster.com

 

Thanks for the link but no it wasnt failure. I looked myself and then asked the people who work there and he told me they no longer carried them. Showed me to the last kit they had left and it was a returned product without the size i require.

 

actually NPT is national pipe TAPERED
NPS = national pipe STRAIGHT

 

That sux...

Did ya get one ordered?

 

If NPT is tapered and NPS is straight then what is NC? It could stand for crap i suppose. I picked up the kit from advanced auto and they all have NC on them.

I havent ordered one yet. I found a local hardware store that had one but it was $16. The owner sent me to a place that might have em but they did not. If its not cheaper online with s & h then ill go back to that hardware store.

 

Disregard. NC is National Course. Finally found it on google.

 

and NF is National Fine, a screw/bolt thread...not a pipe thread. Completely different animal.
similar... BSP is british standard pipe, BSPT is british standard pipe tapered, BSPP is "" parallel, same as BSPF for fitting and BSPM for mechanical. All pipe threads.

 

Right: NC anf NF are all straight threads, such as are found on screws and bolts.

I've never seen a "straight" pipe threaded thing in my entire life, although I know that they exist. Just, not in common everyday low-tech places like cars and house plumbing and such.

For all practical purposes, EVERY pipe thread you will EVER run into FOREVER, is tapered. Thus, NPT, for "national pipe tapered".

A Ľ" pipe is about ˝" OD, about the same as the little "welch" plugs that you hammer into those same holes, which is why you need Ľ" pipe plugs and that size tap to prepare for them. That is in fact the same size as the ones screwed into the same holes, at the other end, on the back of the block.

I still don't believe that your local Lowe's doesn't have that tap. I suspect whoever you talked to was ... inexperienced. That's such a BASIC hardware store item. It's about like going to a lumber yard and them telling you they don't carry 2x4s any more, or going to the auto parts store and them telling you they don't carry brake pads any more. Won't have to be in a set; will be hanging on the wall, individually, on a card. The little bitty Lowe's by my house has em in at least 2 brands, maybe 3; the bigger ones might even have more. Should be around $12 - 15.

 

There it is??? it was there ALL THE TIME!!! Kind of disrespectful to thank dyno don when sofakingdom has gone out of his way to give you the correct answer. It's not his fault you don't know a pipe thread from a bolt thread, and if you had asked for a quarter inch pipe thread you would have gotten exactly what you needed.

 

I meant no disrespect to sofa. Thats why i said nothing disrespctful to him or about him. Its not his fault i didnt know nor did i blame him. But dyno did explain it to me so i thanked him. If sofa is hurt by what i said or didnt say he can PM me and we can talk it out like men (as manly as we can argueing over the internet) but a message board about oil galley plugs hardly seems the place to talk about feelings.